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Memphis VA fires 2 top doctors in wake of investigation

Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center Director David Dunning, left, talks with the VA's chief engineer as work continues on a new front entrance to the hospital.(Photo: Jim Weber / The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

But one of those doctors says through an attorney that the claims against her are "patently and provably untrue."

VA officials confirmed that Susan Calhoun, former director of the hospital's anesthesiology department, and Darryl Weiman, former head of surgery, were fired Friday by Director David Dunning for "failure to lead and act."

David Dunning is a Memphis native and two-time combat veteran who is the newest permanent director at the Memphis VA Medical Center.

Both Calhoun and Weiman had been temporarily reassigned during an investigation, which is now complete, the VA said. Weiman was a staff surgeon and Calhoun was a staff anesthesiologist while the investigation had been ongoing.

Curt Cashour, the VA's press secretary, said the firings come as the VA attempts to improve accountability and transparency across the nation's largest health network.

"Secretary Shulkin has made clear VA will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary action when warranted," Cashour said in a statement.

Calhoun's attorney, Kevin Owen, told the USA TODAY NETWORK that claims made by Dunning about Calhoun's "performance and professionalism" were false and the decision to fire Calhoun will ultimately be even more harmful to the veterans who use the hospital.

"Unfortunately Director Dunning is more interested in reporting a body count of employees he fired in the name of reform than actually improving the Memphis VA Medical Center," Owen said.

Calhoun and Weiman were among several to be reassigned or allowed to retire in a flurry of sweeping personnel changes that Dunning had endorsed in early August. Top officials in an array of areas of the hospital including surgery, research, nursing, engineering and human resources were removed or reassigned while the investigation progressed.

In that year, the hospital was subject to a number of investigations due to allegations of poor care, including botched surgeries and biopsies, delays in urgent care and other issues. Threats to patient safety at the Memphis VA also soared to 1,032 in 2016 – up from 705 in 2015.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee has been investigating the hospital for months.